Completed Event: Men's Swimming & Diving at Penn on January 9, 2026 , Loss , 116, to, 184
Final
Men's Swimming & Diving
at Penn
116
184
Photo by: Doug Austin
Community Connections, Nature Inspire Kong
2/21/2023 9:30:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Peak Performance
For junior Alec Kong, swimming is one of many aspects of his college career. Kong is most proud to be part of the unique community and culture that Dartmouth has created. The experiences that the Big Green have provided him, both in swimming and in his many endeavors, make him thankful that he chose to attend the school.
Â
"I've always been a community-oriented person," said Kong. "I do better in smaller groups than bigger ones, so I'm not as much of a city person. Dartmouth spoke to me on that level. It has an intimate, supportive community with a lot of diverse voices."
Â
It was the community and culture that initially drew Alec to the college on the hill. He was actually not planning to swim in college until he arrived on campus for freshman orientation and first-year trips in the fall.
Â
"I had pretty much understood that I wasn't going to be swimming in college," recalled Kong. "It was only during first-year trips that I met some really cool freshmen swimmers, at the time, who talked to me about the team and suggested I reach out to the coach."
Â
The outdoor trips were a very fitting start to Kong's college experience because he loves the outdoors and being outside. The school's proximity to the woods and nature also drew Kong to Hanover.
Â
"Another big selling point was the woods," said Kong. "Being out here can be isolating for some, but Dartmouth has very much solidified my interest in the outdoors."
Â
Kong's love of the outdoors led him to find out about The Dartmouth 50, which is a 50-mile hiking challenge from the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge back to the town of Hanover. It is intended to be completed in 24 hours.
Â
"I hiked it last summer and it was truly an incredible experience," recalled Kong. "I heard about it during first-year trips, and it sounded like such a crazy thing to do, to hike 50 plus miles in 24 hours. As soon as I heard about it, I instantly knew that it was something I couldn't graduate without doing."
Â
Kong took the opportunity to complete the hike when he was taking classes on campus during his sophomore summer.
Â
"I did it with a group of four, and the whole team finished," said Kong. "We finished first, which is really incredibly satisfying, but also, we finished together and finished strong. I will remember it and the self-growth that came along with it."
Â
Kong's love for the outdoors is actually something that he found helped him during the COVID-19 pandemic. When many aspects of campus were shut down, Kong took a year off from taking classes, and during that time, he traveled to Alaska and spent time training and taking care of sled dogs.
Â
"It was really an incredible opportunity," remembered Kong. "I stayed with a host family, and after I reached out to them, it turned out that one of them was a Dartmouth graduate, class of 1984 I believe. That was totally a coincidence."
Â
This opportunity helped Kong to reflect about his time at Dartmouth and look inward regarding his ultimate goals, both at school and for the future.
Â
"I would go on runs with the dogs, feed them, and make sure they were taken care of," said Kong." It was right in the heart of the pandemic, so it was an incredible moment of mental health. Being on my own out there, I had a lot of room for introspection, and I could look within myself to see what I wanted to do with my remaining time at Dartmouth."
Â
Kong is a biology major at Dartmouth, which matches his love of the outdoors, however, he intends to use his biology degree to apply to medical school. Even though he is busy with his biology classes, Kong makes sure to take the time to explore his many areas of interest and take courses in those areas.
Â
"During my time at Dartmouth, I have been able to shake off the mindset that I need to get perfect grades," said Kong. "I've been able to take class that truly interest me. I want to learn about a wide range of perspectives and experiences. I have been able to apply them in other areas of study. It has been really enriching on my academic journey."
Â
Kong was able to marry his academic interests and swimming experiences to apply for a scholar program researching Sarcoma, started in remembrance of a college swimmer.
Â
Every fall, the Ted Mullin Hour of Power Relay takes place in remembrance of Ted Mullin, a swimmer at Carlton College who passed away in 2006 from Sarcoma, a form of soft-tissue cancer. The funds from the event go towards Sarcoma research and treatment at the University of Chicago Medicine.
Â
"It's an hour-long all-out effort, which is very daunting to do, but it's also a very high-energy and positive event," said Kong. "Through that, the event has created a research program and I applied for the upcoming summer. I am still waiting to hear back, but I think it would be a really great opportunity and I am very happy to have supported an important cause."
Â
Kong has been able to become involved in many different aspects of the campus and the community during his time at Dartmouth so far, and that has not gone unnoticed by his coaches, teammates, friends and peers.
Â
"Alec is a classic example of what you would hope a Dartmouth student-athlete can be," said head swimming and diving coach Milana Socha. "He is a very good student, he is a key member of our program and he has had some tremendous experiences outside of the pool and classroom."
Â
Kong is able to balance all his interests by prioritizing his time and staying engaged in everything he does. Through his many passions, Kong has been able to model leadership and dedication to his teammates and all those he touches.
Â
"There is sometimes a perception that student-athletes can't be engaged in their campus community and Alec is the direct opposite of that," said Socha. "What he does is show that if you're intentional about the ways that you choose to spend your time, and the people who you surround yourself with, great things can happen."
Â
Kong is extremely grateful that he ended up at Dartmouth and he knows that it has already paid off in so many ways. However, Kong has most certainly influenced Dartmouth in the same impactful ways, and will leave behind a strong legacy of excellence.
Â
"I have really come to love this campus and this community," said Kong. "I have had amazing experiences and will surely have more in my time left here. Even after Dartmouth, I will be impacted by the time that I've had here and the people that I've met."
Â
Â
"I've always been a community-oriented person," said Kong. "I do better in smaller groups than bigger ones, so I'm not as much of a city person. Dartmouth spoke to me on that level. It has an intimate, supportive community with a lot of diverse voices."
Â
It was the community and culture that initially drew Alec to the college on the hill. He was actually not planning to swim in college until he arrived on campus for freshman orientation and first-year trips in the fall.
Â
"I had pretty much understood that I wasn't going to be swimming in college," recalled Kong. "It was only during first-year trips that I met some really cool freshmen swimmers, at the time, who talked to me about the team and suggested I reach out to the coach."
Â
The outdoor trips were a very fitting start to Kong's college experience because he loves the outdoors and being outside. The school's proximity to the woods and nature also drew Kong to Hanover.
 "Another big selling point was the woods," said Kong. "Being out here can be isolating for some, but Dartmouth has very much solidified my interest in the outdoors."
Â
Kong's love of the outdoors led him to find out about The Dartmouth 50, which is a 50-mile hiking challenge from the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge back to the town of Hanover. It is intended to be completed in 24 hours.
Â
"I hiked it last summer and it was truly an incredible experience," recalled Kong. "I heard about it during first-year trips, and it sounded like such a crazy thing to do, to hike 50 plus miles in 24 hours. As soon as I heard about it, I instantly knew that it was something I couldn't graduate without doing."
Â
Kong took the opportunity to complete the hike when he was taking classes on campus during his sophomore summer.
Â
"I did it with a group of four, and the whole team finished," said Kong. "We finished first, which is really incredibly satisfying, but also, we finished together and finished strong. I will remember it and the self-growth that came along with it."
Â
Kong's love for the outdoors is actually something that he found helped him during the COVID-19 pandemic. When many aspects of campus were shut down, Kong took a year off from taking classes, and during that time, he traveled to Alaska and spent time training and taking care of sled dogs.
 "It was really an incredible opportunity," remembered Kong. "I stayed with a host family, and after I reached out to them, it turned out that one of them was a Dartmouth graduate, class of 1984 I believe. That was totally a coincidence."
Â
This opportunity helped Kong to reflect about his time at Dartmouth and look inward regarding his ultimate goals, both at school and for the future.
Â
"I would go on runs with the dogs, feed them, and make sure they were taken care of," said Kong." It was right in the heart of the pandemic, so it was an incredible moment of mental health. Being on my own out there, I had a lot of room for introspection, and I could look within myself to see what I wanted to do with my remaining time at Dartmouth."
Â
Kong is a biology major at Dartmouth, which matches his love of the outdoors, however, he intends to use his biology degree to apply to medical school. Even though he is busy with his biology classes, Kong makes sure to take the time to explore his many areas of interest and take courses in those areas.
Â
"During my time at Dartmouth, I have been able to shake off the mindset that I need to get perfect grades," said Kong. "I've been able to take class that truly interest me. I want to learn about a wide range of perspectives and experiences. I have been able to apply them in other areas of study. It has been really enriching on my academic journey."
Â
Kong was able to marry his academic interests and swimming experiences to apply for a scholar program researching Sarcoma, started in remembrance of a college swimmer.
Â
Every fall, the Ted Mullin Hour of Power Relay takes place in remembrance of Ted Mullin, a swimmer at Carlton College who passed away in 2006 from Sarcoma, a form of soft-tissue cancer. The funds from the event go towards Sarcoma research and treatment at the University of Chicago Medicine.
Â
"It's an hour-long all-out effort, which is very daunting to do, but it's also a very high-energy and positive event," said Kong. "Through that, the event has created a research program and I applied for the upcoming summer. I am still waiting to hear back, but I think it would be a really great opportunity and I am very happy to have supported an important cause."
Â
Kong has been able to become involved in many different aspects of the campus and the community during his time at Dartmouth so far, and that has not gone unnoticed by his coaches, teammates, friends and peers.
 "Alec is a classic example of what you would hope a Dartmouth student-athlete can be," said head swimming and diving coach Milana Socha. "He is a very good student, he is a key member of our program and he has had some tremendous experiences outside of the pool and classroom."
Â
Kong is able to balance all his interests by prioritizing his time and staying engaged in everything he does. Through his many passions, Kong has been able to model leadership and dedication to his teammates and all those he touches.
Â
"There is sometimes a perception that student-athletes can't be engaged in their campus community and Alec is the direct opposite of that," said Socha. "What he does is show that if you're intentional about the ways that you choose to spend your time, and the people who you surround yourself with, great things can happen."
Â
Kong is extremely grateful that he ended up at Dartmouth and he knows that it has already paid off in so many ways. However, Kong has most certainly influenced Dartmouth in the same impactful ways, and will leave behind a strong legacy of excellence.
Â
"I have really come to love this campus and this community," said Kong. "I have had amazing experiences and will surely have more in my time left here. Even after Dartmouth, I will be impacted by the time that I've had here and the people that I've met."
Â
Players Mentioned
Breast
/ Men's Swimming & DivingInterview: Coach Conversation with Milana Socha, Nov. 16, 2022
Tuesday, November 15
Interview: Coaches Confidential: Jesse Moore, June 22, 2021
Monday, June 28
